Clarry Conners is convinced Dear Demi has already negotiated the most important part of her build-up to the Sydney autumn carnival. And now the trainer is counting on the mare’s impressive record when having her second run after a break to deliver a Group One Coolmore Classic win at Rosehill… Read More »
Robbie Griffiths is under no illusions about the task facing William Reid Stakes outsider It Is Written. But the sprinter’s affinity for the Moonee Valley circuit has convinced the trainer to roll the dice and give him a crack at Friday night’s Group One sprint. “I don’t believe he’s a… Read More »
Craig Newitt paid a heavy price for his loyalty the last time he rode Samaready. Newitt had the option of partnering the mare or her Mick Price-trained stablemate Lankan Rupee in the Group One Newmarket Handicap and stuck with Samaready. The choice cost him $29,000 in winning percentages after Lankan… Read More »
Nigel Blackiston will saddle up two runners at Moonee Valley on Friday night, a task which could prove more difficult than it sounds. On the racetrack, Suavito and You’re So Good are two of his most talented horses. But at Blackiston’s Flemington stable, they are renowned for their difficult temperaments…. Read More »
Promising provincial-based apprentice Travis Wolfgram will make his first full day’s appearance at a Saturday metropolitan meeting with a book of top rides at Eagle Farm. Wolfgram, who claims 3kg in metropolitan races, has ridden 39 winners overall this season, 22 of those at the Gold Coast where he is… Read More »
James McDonald turned in a perfect ride to square the ledger with the Hawkes stable in winning the Group Three Newmarket Handicap at Newcastle on Wednesday. Two starts back McDonald rode Mercir when fourth at Randwick after being pocketed in the straight instead of going to the outside and he… Read More »
Unencumbered will need a new rider in the Golden Slipper with regular jockey Nathan Berry ruled out after being struck down by viral encephalitis. Berry’s manager Ryan Roberts confirmed on Wednesday that the jockey would not be fit to partner the Bjorn Baker-trained youngster who he has ridden in six… Read More »
Trainer Robert Smerdon is lukewarm on the chances of Go The Knuckle at Sandown on Saturday despite a significant weight drop. Go The Knuckle has carried 57.5kg at his past two outings and will have three kilos less in the Listed City of Greater Dandenong Stakes (1200m). But Smerdon fears… Read More »
He was laughed at as a younger horse but cheered home at Sandown on Wednesday. De Little Engine raced to his first city win and set up a potentially big few days for his owners. “He was a horse that, hence his name De Little Engine, was tiny as a… Read More »
History and experience have given John O’Shea a potent belief he can win Saturday’s Group One Coolmore Classic. And his optimism comes despite a tough start to the week. Promising sprinter Bernabeu suffered a life-threatening leg injury during a gallop at Randwick on Tuesday and his future remains unclear. But… Read More »
Golden Slipper-winning trainer Bruce Brown has cut his team back to four horses but he thinks they are all potential top-liners. His mare Spinifex Fire ($6) proved Brown at least partly correct when she impressively won the Adrenaline Thoroughbred Syndications Handicap at Doomben on Wednesday. Brown, the son of legendary… Read More »
Favouritism for the richest race of the Sydney autumn carnival will be up for grabs when Fiorente and It’s A Dundeel clash in Saturday’s Ranvet Stakes. The Melbourne Cup winner shades It’s A Dundeel in early markets for the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes but a victory by the New… Read More »
He’ll be remembered for winning a Golden Slipper and a Magic Millions, but Frank Cleary can’t even recall his last Sydney runner. “God, I wouldn’t know,” he said. The Queanbeyan-based trainer’s days of running dual stables are well and truly over, and that’s the way he likes it. With just… Read More »
Anthony Cummings is prepared to ignore a heavy last-start defeat and will put his faith in a track gallop when assessing Fontelina’s chances in the William Reid Stakes. Cummings is still trying to get over the shock of Fontelina’s poor showing in the Newmarket Handicap when the sprinter beat one… Read More »
The racing career of consistent three-year-old Secret Harmony hangs in the balance. Secret Harmony injured his off front leg when unplaced in a Gold Coast race last Saturday. “He was making a strong run when he got a bump coming around the home turn and Tim (jockey Tim Bell) could… Read More »
Three-year-old Late Charge will be out to restore Derby aspirations at Sandown on Saturday. The Wendy Kelly-trained colt was scratched from last Friday night’s Group Two Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley because of an elevated white blood cell count. But he is back to full health and will line… Read More »
A programming concern with the Coolmore Classic meeting has delayed the Sydney debut of leading ATC Oaks chance Solicit. Solicit was paid up for Saturday’s Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill as well as the Alexandra Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night. The Phar Lap Stakes is the last of… Read More »
Samaready will jump from the inside gate in the William Reid Stakes as she bids to bounce back to winning form in Melbourne’s final Group One race of the season. The Mick Price-trained mare is one of three Group One winners lining up in Friday night’s 1200m weight-for-age sprint at… Read More »
British jockey Pat Cosgrave has been banned for six months for improper riding in a race in Dubai. The 31-year-old, who rode Society Rock to win the 2011 Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot, was aboard third-placed Anaerobio in the Group One Jebel Hatta at Meydan on March 8. Cosgrave set… Read More »
Seabass has been withdrawn from the Grand National after suffering a serious injury on Monday. Trained by Ted Walsh and ridden by his daughter, Katie, Seabass was third at Aintree in 2012 and went off the 11-2 favourite last year only to finish 13th. The 11-year-old finished last in his… Read More »
